Bustin’ Through the January Funk
Now that we’re starting the slow winter creep, here are some things I do every year to help get my year started on the right foot.
Read MoreFiltering by Category: inspiration
The Plight of the Young Musician Part II: When I Started Saying No
In Part II, I’m going to take a look at three reasons I would turn work away, regardless of how badly I needed the money.
Read MoreMan of La Mancha!
This production of Man of La Mancha, at the Westport Country Playhouse in Westport, CT, is touching and incredibly well-staged. Here are a few things that make this special production work from an inside view!
Read MoreNew Season, New Complaints
It’s officially fall! With this new season often comes that wave of dread when the black ink layers upon itself and you wonder “how am I going to play THIS much music?” If it doesn’t come in these crucial months, it can get extremely depressing and frustrating, and it seems like there’s no way to ever just be happy. Is there ever a state of being a musician where there’s no reason to complain?
Read MoreWhat’s in a Union?
Democratic primaries for state elections have just happened in New York and, while politics are very much on everyone’s minds these days, it turns out that the musicians’ union here, Local 802, is having elections of its own. As a non-employed musician pondering the candidates, I ask myself “What should I be getting from the union?”
Read MoreMore Side-Gig Shaming, With a Happy Ending!
Playing While Under Duress
I can't pick and choose when I'll get called to play on someone else's show or be given the opportunity to learn someone else's book, so I make do with what I have. And yes, sometimes that means playing through extreme pain that ISN'T a muscle injury that occurred from overuse of my embouchure.
Read MoreThe Lighter Side of New Equipment
Most of my summer was spent wrestling with the new Patterson Triple I got at the beginning of May. One thing I've learned is that trying horns always works in three phases for me.
Read MoreThe Legacy of Aretha Franklin: Musicianship
If someone asked me what I knew about Aretha Franklin, I could rattle off the top five hits, just like anyone else, but I knew very little about her life. What I read was both shocking and inspiring. I'm honoring her legacy by sharing some of the things about her that moved me.
Read MoreAn American Hero: A World War II Musical
One of the most gratifying projects I've been a part of this summer was working in the pit of An American Hero: A World War II Musical as a part of the New York Musical Festival, or NYMF Kenneth L. Stilson did a great job writing a book that makes you feel like you're hanging out in a time from long ago, and Cody Cole wrote music that is funny, dramatic, and haunting at times. He pulls from many sources of inspiration, and melds them together pretty seamlessly.
Read MoreRedefining Success
Many of us classical musicians are programmed from the get go to pursue traditional careers. This can result in many talented people questioning whether or not the classical dream was really theirs in the first place.
Read MoreIn Memoriam: David Bousso
A friend of mine, a violinist and conductor named David Bousso, has died. When a friend leaves you, what are you supposed to do?
Read MoreOn Being a Kind Freelancer
Some recent conversations I've been having with colleagues have got me thinking about the importance of being kind to others that we meet on the job, on social media, and especially those who are often not kind to us.
Read MoreMakeover!
Spring has finally sprung here in NYC. With the change of seasons comes the inevitable wardrobe switch from hats to sunglasses, parkas to anoraks, boots to fun flats and, as an added accessory for me, a new brand of horn!
Read MorePlaying Like it's the End of the World
This sentiment has guided almost every major musical decision I've made in my career. From choosing summer festivals to reading scores, I often ask myself: "if this is the last time I get to play this piece, is this the decision I want to go out on?" It has permeated the way I listen to music, and it's probably what keeps me locked into the passion I have for being a horn player.
Read MoreReality Show Realness
The babies are asleep, the toys are picked up, the kitchen is cleaned, and it's too late to practice anymore. As is my wont to do, I started wondering why I can't get enough of this seemingly junky TV.
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